Brave New Films 501 (C)(4) v. Weiner et al

Filing
19

Brave New Films 501 (C)(4) v. Weiner et al
Doc. 19
1 Benjamin Aaron Shapiro (SBN 254456) 12330 Magnolia Boulevard, No. 114 2 Valley Village, CA 91607 Telephone: (818) 620-0137 3 Attorney for Defendant 4 MICHAEL WEINER aka MICHAEL SAVAGE, and ORIGINAL TALK RADIO NETWORK, INC. 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 BRAVE NEW FILMS 501(c)(4), 13 14 v. Plaintiff, Case No. CV 08-4703 SI DEFENDANT ORIGINAL TALK RADIO NETWORK, INC.'S ANSWER TO PLAINTIFF'S COMPLAINT FOR DECLARATORY JUDGMENT AND DAMAGES UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO DIVISION
15 MICHAEL WEINER aka MICHAEL SAVAGE, and ORIGINAL TALK RADIO NETWORK, INC., 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
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Defendants.
OTRN'S ANSWER TO COMPLAINT Case No. CV 08-4703 SI
Dockets.Justia.com
1
NOW COMES defendant THE ORIGINAL TALK RADIO NETWORK,
2 INC., sued herein as "ORIGINAL TALK RADIO NETWORK, INC." 3 ("Defendant" or "OTRN"), for itself alone, by and through its attorney, Benjamin 4 Aaron Shapiro, and as and for its answer, in the above-captioned action (this 5 "Action"), to the complaint in this Action (the "Complaint"), filed by plaintiff 6 BRAVE NEW FILMS 501(C)(4) ("Plaintiff"), states with respect to each numbered 7 paragraph in the Complaint, as follows. 8 9 1. The allegations of Paragraph 1 call for legal conclusions and/or set 10 forth opinions of Plaintiff, to which an answer is neither required nor appropriate. 11 To the extent that an answer is required to the allegations in this paragraph, 12 Defendant admits that OTRN demanded, through counsel, that YouTube remove a 13 total of 259 videos, of which the Video was merely 1 of the totality of 259 videos at 14 issue, along with 258 other videos all containing excerpts from OTRN's syndicated 15 radio program "The Michael Savage Show" (the "Show"), denies the allegations as 16 to the purported knowledge of OTRN, and denies each and every remaining 17 allegation in Paragraph 1 as incorrect statements of law and/or opinion, and/or false 18 and/or misleading purported statements of fact, and/or due to lack of sufficient 19 knowledge as to the mindset and/or actions of parties other than OTRN to otherwise 20 respond. Defendant further and expressly denies any knowledge "that its takedown 21 notice was baseless" and further and expressly denies that its "takedown notice" was 22 an effort to "silence criticism." 23 24 2. Defendant lacks sufficient knowledge to form a belief as to the truth or 25 falsity of the allegations of Paragraph 2 and therefore denies same for lack of 26 sufficient basis to otherwise respond thereto. 27 28
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OTRN'S ANSWER TO COMPLAINT Case No. CV 08-4703 SI
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3.
Defendant admits that OTRN is an Oregon corporation which
2 maintains its principal place of business in Oregon, that it at times does business as 3 "Talk Radio Network", that it syndicates and distributes talk radio content, 4 including without limitation the Show, and that the Show is sometimes referred to as 5 "The Savage Nation", but denies each and every remaining allegation of Paragraph 6 3 as phrased. 7 8 4. Defendant denies the allegations of Paragraph 4 as phrased, or due to 9 lack of sufficient knowledge to respond definitively to allegations concerning the 10 present status of circumstances applicable to parties other than OTRN. To the 11 extent that these allegations refer to the specific content of any outside document 12 appended to the Complaint, Defendant contends that those documents speak for 13 themselves. 14 15 16 17 6. Defendant objects to the allegations in Paragraph 6 to the extent they 18 call for a legal conclusion to which an answer is neither required nor appropriate 19 and/or are outside of Defendant's knowledge, and on the further grounds that such 20 allegations are statements of Plaintiff's opinions and beliefs. Defendant further 21 alleges that the text of the cited provisions of the U.S.C. speak for themselves, and 22 that what any such provisions provide are a matter of law. 23 24 7. Defendant objects to the allegations in the first sentence of Paragraph 7 25 to the extent they call for a legal conclusion to which an answer is neither required 26 nor appropriate. Defendant also objects to the allegations that OTRN's letter 27 delivered to YouTube on or about September 29, 2008 demanding removal of 259 28
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5.
Defendant denies each and every allegation of Paragraph 5.
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OTRN'S ANSWER TO COMPLAINT Case No. CV 08-4703 SI
1 videos containing material taken from the Show, posted to YouTube, which together 2 created a virtual archival library of contents taken from the Show (the "9/29/08 3 Letter"), constituted a "takedown notice" under the DMCA. Defendant admits that 4 the 9/29/08 Letter was sent to San Bruno, California, but denies that such notice was 5 "calculated to cause harm" at any location, and denies each and every remaining 6 allegation of Paragraph 7 for lack of sufficient information to otherwise respond. 7 8 8. Defendant objects to the allegations in Paragraph 8 to the extent they 9 call for a legal conclusion to which an answer is neither required nor appropriate. 10 Defendant further lacks sufficient knowledge to respond definitively to allegations 11 therein as to parties other than OTRN, and therefore denies same for lack of 12 sufficient basis to otherwise respond thereto, or as such allegations are phrased. 13 14 16 17 10. Defendant objects to the allegations in Paragraph 10 to the extent they 18 call for a legal conclusion to which an answer is neither required nor appropriate, 19 and denies such allegations as phrased. 20 21 11. Defendant lacks sufficient knowledge to form a belief as to the truth or 22 falsity of the allegations in Paragraph 11 and therefore denies same for lack of 23 sufficient basis to otherwise respond thereto, and further and expressly denies that 24 Plaintiff's films, blogs, television shows and short videos are known to Defendant. 25 Defendant also objects to all such allegations as being irrelevant to Defendant's 26 understanding of the legal issues relevant to Plaintiff's purported causes of action 27 asserted in the Complaint. 28
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9.
Defendant objects to the allegations in Paragraph 9 to the extent they
15 call for a legal conclusion to which an answer is neither required nor appropriate.
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OTRN'S ANSWER TO COMPLAINT Case No. CV 08-4703 SI
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12.
Defendant lacks sufficient knowledge to form a belief as to the truth or
2 falsity of the allegations in Paragraph 12 and therefore denies same for lack of 3 sufficient basis to otherwise respond thereto. Defendant also objects to all such 4 allegations as being irrelevant to Defendant's understanding of the legal issues 5 relevant to Plaintiff's purported causes of action asserted in the Complaint. 6 7 13. Defendant admits that the Show is nationally syndicated, but denies the 8 remaining allegations of Paragraph 13 as phrased, and for lack of sufficient 9 knowledge to respond definitively to contentions as to alleged assertions by parties 10 other than Defendant. 11 12 14. Defendant denies the allegations of Paragraph 14 as phrased, and/or as 13 constituting statements of opinion and belief by Plaintiff. Defendant further objects 14 to such contentions as being irrelevant to Defendant's understanding of the issues 15 relevant to Plaintiff's purported causes of action asserted in the Complaint. 16 17 15. Defendant lacks sufficient knowledge to respond definitively to the 18 allegations in Paragraph 15 relating to the conduct of parties other than Defendant 19 and therefore denies same for lack of sufficient basis to otherwise respond hereto. 20 Defendant further objects to such contentions as setting forth the subjective opinions 21 and beliefs of Plaintiff and as addressing matters which are irrelevant to Defendant's 22 understanding of the legal issues relevant to Plaintiff's purported causes of action 23 asserted in the Complaint. 24 25 16. Defendant lacks sufficient knowledge to respond definitively to the 26 allegations in Paragraph 16 relating to the conduct of parties other than Defendant 27 and therefore denies same for lack of sufficient basis to otherwise respond hereto. 28
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OTRN'S ANSWER TO COMPLAINT Case No. CV 08-4703 SI
1 Defendant further objects to such contentions as setting forth the subjective opinions 2 and beliefs of Plaintiff and as addressing matters which are irrelevant to Defendant's 3 understanding of the legal issues relevant to Plaintiff's purported causes of action 4 asserted in the Complaint. 5 6 17. Defendant admits the allegations of Paragraph 17, as to the existence of 7 the Video on YouTube, but denies the allegations thereof as to the date of posting 8 the video on YouTube for lack of sufficient knowledge of the particulars thereof to 9 respond otherwise thereto. 10 11 18. In response to the allegations of Paragraph 18, Defendant alleges that 12 the actual contents of the Video, and the statements of Savage on the Video, speak 13 for themselves, and further submits that the substance of what is said by Savage on 14 the Video is not relevant to the legal issues posed by the purported causes of action 15 asserted in the Complaint. 16 17 19. Defendant lacks sufficient knowledge concerning the actions of parties 18 other than Defendant to respond definitively to the allegations of Paragraph 19, and 19 therefore denies same for lack of sufficient basis to otherwise respond thereto. 20 Defendant further alleges that the contents of the website referred to therein speak 21 for themselves, and also objects to such allegations as being wholly irrelevant to the 22 purported causes of action asserted in the Complaint. 23 24 20. Defendant lacks sufficient knowledge concerning the actions of parties 25 other than Defendant to respond definitively to the allegations of Paragraph 20, and 26 therefore denies same for lack of sufficient basis to otherwise respond thereto. 27 Defendant further alleges that the contents of the court rulings referred to therein 28
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OTRN'S ANSWER TO COMPLAINT Case No. CV 08-4703 SI
1 speak for themselves, and also objects to such allegations as being wholly irrelevant 2 to the purported causes of action asserted in the Complaint. 3 4 21. Answering Paragraph 21, the results and judgment of any separate legal 5 actions previously pending in this Court are matters of public record, and the 6 rulings, orders and judgments in any such actions speak for themselves. Defendant 7 further objects to such allegations as addressing matters which are irrelevant to 8 Defendant's understanding of the legal issues relevant to Plaintiff's purported causes 9 of action asserted in the Complaint. 10 11 22. Defendant denies that the content of the Video and the content of the 12 purported "CAIR video" referenced in Paragraph 22 are the same, and alleges that 13 the contents of each speak for themselves, whether or not they contain any common 14 elements, and further objects to such allegations as constituting statements of 15 opinion and belief on the part of Plaintiff, and as constituting argumentative 16 assertions of Plaintiff's legal contentions, and denies such contentions on that basis. 17 18 23. Answering Paragraph 23, Defendant admits only that Plaintiff attached 19 what purports to be a letter from OTRN to YouTube as Exhibit E to the Complaint. 20 To the extent that the allegations in Paragraph 23 refer to any outside documents, 21 whether appended to the Complaint or not, any such documents speak for 22 themselves. Defendant does admit that counsel for Defendant did deliver a letter the 23 9/29/08 Letter demanding removal of 259 videos, posted on YouTube, of material 24 taken from the Show, which together created a virtual archival library of contents 25 taken from the Show, and that the Video constituted one of that total collection of 26 259 videos. 27 28
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OTRN'S ANSWER TO COMPLAINT Case No. CV 08-4703 SI
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24.
Answering Paragraph 24, Defendant admits only that Plaintiff attached
2 what purports to be a notification from YouTube as Exhibit E to the Complaint. 3 Defendant lacks sufficient information to respond definitively to allegations 4 concerning the actions of parties other than Defendant, and therefore denies the 5 remaining allegations of Paragraph 24 for lack of sufficient basis to respond 6 otherwise thereto. 7 8 25. Defendant lacks sufficient knowledge to respond definitively to 9 allegations concerning the actions of parties other than Defendant and therefore 10 denies the allegations of Paragraph 25 for lack of sufficient basis to otherwise 11 respond thereto, with the sole exception that Defendant is informed and believes that 12 the Video was in fact restored by YouTube shortly after Plaintiff quickly filed this 13 Action with an expectation that the Video would in fact be restored promptly. 14 15 26. Defendant lacks sufficient knowledge to respond definitively to 16 allegations concerning the actions of parties other than Defendant, and therefore 17 denies the allegations of Paragraph 26 for lack of sufficient basis to otherwise 18 respond thereto. 19 20 27. Answering Paragraph 27, Defendant restates and incorporates by 21 reference its responses to each and every allegation in the preceding paragraphs of 22 the Complaint as though set forth fully herein. 23 24 28. Answering Paragraph 28, Defendant objects to these allegations to the 25 extent they call for a legal conclusion to which an answer is neither required nor 26 appropriate. To the extent that these allegations refer to any outside document, 27 whether or not appended to the Complaint, those documents speak for themselves. 28
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OTRN'S ANSWER TO COMPLAINT Case No. CV 08-4703 SI
1 Defendant further alleges that the text of the cited provision of the U.S.C. speaks for 2 itself and that what any such provision provides is a matter of law. Defendant 3 expressly denies that the contents of the 9/29/08 Letter made any standalone 4 contentions as to the Video, in contrast to contentions with respect to the collective 5 archive library of 259 videos which, collectively, were the subject of the 9/29/08 6 Letter. Defendant further expressly denies the existence of any "real and actual 7 controversy" between Plaintiff and Defendant, in that Plaintiff filed the Complaint 8 without any prior contact with Defendant, and in that the Video was restored by 9 YouTube, without any further objection by Defendant, once Defendant learned 10 (from reviewing the Complaint rather than from any prior communication from 11 Plaintiff) that the Video related exclusively to the October 29, 2007 broadcast of the 12 Show (the "10/29/07 Broadcast"). Defendant admits that Defendant is informed 13 and believes that Savage is the holder of the registered copyright for the 10/29/07 14 Broadcast, which is the only broadcast of the Show for which Defendant does not 15 claim the copyright. 16 17 29. Answering Paragraph 29, Defendant objects to the allegations in 18 Paragraph 29 to the extent they call for a legal conclusion to which an answer is 19 neither required nor appropriate. Defendant further alleges that the text of the cited 20 provision of the U.S.C. speaks for itself and that what any such provision provides is 21 a matter of law. 22 23 24 25 31. Answering Paragraph 31, Defendant restates and incorporates by this 26 reference its responses to each and every allegation in the preceding paragraphs of 27 the Complaint as though set forth fully herein. 28
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30.
Defendant expressly denies each and every allegation of Paragraph 30.
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OTRN'S ANSWER TO COMPLAINT Case No. CV 08-4703 SI
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32.
Answering Paragraph 32, Defendant lacks sufficient information and
2 belief as to the actions or beliefs of third parties to respond definitively thereto, and 3 denies all such allegations on such basis. Defendant denies that the 9/29/08 Letter 4 constituted a "takedown notice" under the DMCA, and submits that the 9/29/08 5 Letter, and the contents thereof, speak for themselves. Defendant further expressly 6 denies that the 9/29/08 Letter made any assertions directed exclusively to the Video 7 alone, in contrast to assertions relating to the collective assembly of 259 videos 8 posted on YouTube containing material from "The Michael Savage Show," which 9 together created a virtual archived library of content taken from the Show. 10 11 33. Answering Paragraph 33, Defendant expressly and strenuously denies 12 allegations that OTRN had "actual or constructive knowledge" concerning the 13 specifics of the Video independent of the other 258 videos constituting the collective 14 group of 259 videos that were the collective subject of the 9/29/08 Letter, or that the 15 assertions of the 9/29/08 Letter constituted a "knowing and material 16 misrepresentation." Defendant further denies that the 9/29/08 Letter is subject to 17 §512(f). Defendant further denies that the Video was composed of the "same 18 material used in nearly the identical manner by CAIR". To the extent that these 19 allegations refer to any outside document, whether appended to the Complaint or 20 otherwise, any such documents speak for themselves. Defendant further alleges that 21 the text of the cited provision of the U.S.C. speaks for itself and that what any such 22 provision provides is a matter of law. 23 24 25 26 27 28
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34.
Defendant denies the allegations of Paragraph 34.
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OTRN'S ANSWER TO COMPLAINT Case No. CV 08-4703 SI
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WHEREFORE, Defendant denies that Plaintiff is entitled to judgment
2 against it in any amount, or for any relief, whatsoever, and requests that judgment be 3 entered in favor of Defendant and against Plaintiff, and respectfully requests that 4 this Honorable Court grant it such further relief, including without limitation 5 recovery of all attorneys' fees and costs incurred in its defense of this Action, as this 6 Honorable Court deems just and proper. 7 8 9 11 12 13 14 1. FIRST AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE (NO KNOWING MISREPRESENTATION) By way of pleading in the alternative, if and to the extent that any of AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES NOW COMES Defendant, by and through its attorney, Benjamin Aaron
10 Shapiro, and, as and for its Affirmative Defenses in this Action, alleges as follows:
15 the acts or omissions alleged in the Complaint did occur, then Defendant is not 16 liable to Plaintiff for any of the matters alleged by Plaintiff in this Action, in that 17 Defendant acted in good faith and with reasonable grounds for believing that all acts 18 or omissions of Defendant alleged in the Complaint were lawful and proper at the 19 time of their alleged commission, and did not make any knowing 20 misrepresentations, under 17 U.S.C. §512(f) or otherwise. In particular, the Video 21 was included in a list addressing, as a collective whole, 259 videos posted on 22 YouTube containing material from "The Michael Savage Show," which together 23 created a virtual archived library of content from the Show, and Defendant was not 24 then aware that the Video related to the one broadcast, of all of the broadcasts of the 25 Show over a period of many years, as to which Defendant did not claim the 26 copyright, or that the Video related to the one such broadcast that was the subject of 27 28
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OTRN'S ANSWER TO COMPLAINT Case No. CV 08-4703 SI
1 the CAIR litigation alleged in the Complaint (the "CAIR Litigation"), to which 2 Defendant was not a party. 3 4 5 6 2. SECOND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE (NO MATERIAL MISREPRESENTATION) By way of pleading in the alternative, if and to the extent that any of
7 the acts or omissions alleged in the Complaint did occur, then Defendant is not 8 liable to Plaintiff for any of the matters alleged by Plaintiff in this Action, in that 9 Defendant acted in good faith and with reasonable grounds for believing that all acts 10 or omissions of Defendant alleged in the Complaint were lawful and proper at the 11 time of their alleged commission, and did not make any "material" 12 misrepresentations, under 17 U.S.C. §512(f) or otherwise. In particular, the Video 13 was included in a list addressing, as a collective whole, 259 videos posted on 14 YouTube containing material from "The Michael Savage Show," which together 15 created a virtual archived library of content from the Show, Defendant was not then 16 aware that the Video related to the one broadcast of the Show (of all of the 17 broadcasts of the Show over a period of many years) as to which Defendant did not 18 claim the copyright, or that the Video related to the one such broadcast that was the 19 subject of the CAIR Litigation (to which Defendant was not a party, in any event, 20 and whether or not any relationship between such broadcast and the CAIR Litigation 21 is relevant), and any innocent mistake and/or oversight by Defendant with respect to 22 one video out of 259 is not, and should not be deemed to be, material. 23 24 25 26 28
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THIRD AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE (MISTAKE) 3. By way of pleading in the alternative, if and to the extent that any of
27 the acts or omissions alleged in the Complaint did occur, then Defendant is not 11
OTRN'S ANSWER TO COMPLAINT Case No. CV 08-4703 SI
1 liable to Plaintiff for any of the matters alleged by Plaintiff in this Action, in that 2 Defendant acted in good faith and with reasonable grounds for believing that all acts 3 or omissions of Defendant alleged in the Complaint were lawful and proper at the 4 time of their alleged commission, in that inclusion of the Video in the listing of the 5 259 videos which constituted an objectionable archived third party library of content 6 taken from the Show was merely an inadvertent error or oversight, and any such 7 inadvertent error or oversight does not approach the applicable "subjective bad 8 faith" standard under 17 U.S.C. §512(f), and Defendant made no further contentions 9 with respect to the Video since being made aware of the specific information 10 relating to the Video separate and distinct from the other 258 videos which were the 11 subject of the September 29, 2008 notice relating to a collective YouTube library of 12 259 archived videos, and in fact allowed the Video to be restored by YouTube in a 13 timely manner in accordance with the restoration procedures of the Digital 14 Millennium Copyright Act (the "DCMA"). 15 16 17 18 4. FOURTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE (THIRD PARTY RESPONSIBILITY FOR REMOVAL OF VIDEO) By way of pleading in the alternative, if and to the extent that any of
19 the acts or omissions alleged in the Complaint did occur as to any brief removal of 20 Video of Plaintiff, without a formal "takedown notice" under the DMCA, then 21 Defendant is not liable to Plaintiff for any of the matters alleged by Plaintiff in this 22 Action with respect thereto, in that Plaintiff's sole and actual claim would be against 23 any third party precipitously and actually removing the Video from YouTube, for a 24 very brief period of time, rather than Defendant. 25 26 27 28
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OTRN'S ANSWER TO COMPLAINT Case No. CV 08-4703 SI
1 2 3 5.
FIFTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE (THIRD PARTY RESPONSIBILITY FOR REMOVAL OF CHANNEL) By way of pleading in the alternative, if and to the extent that any of
4 the acts or omissions alleged in the Complaint did occur as to any brief removal of 5 videos of Plaintiff other than the Video from YouTube, without any request or 6 suggestion by Defendant that such action be taken, then Defendant is not liable to 7 Plaintiff for any of the matters alleged by Plaintiff in this Action with respect 8 thereto, in that Plaintiff's sole and actual claim would be against any third party 9 actually removing the entire "bravenewfilms" channel from YouTube, for a very 10 brief period of time, rather than Defendant. 11 12 13 14 6. SIXTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE (THIRD PARTY INTERVENING ACT) By way of pleading in the alternative, if and to the extent that any of
15 the acts or omissions alleged in the Complaint did occur as to any brief removal of 16 videos of Plaintiff other than the Video from YouTube, without any request or 17 suggestion by Defendant that such action be taken, then Defendant is not liable to 18 Plaintiff for any of the matters alleged by Plaintiff in this Action with respect 19 thereto, in that any such action would constitute an independent intervening act by a 20 third party for which Defendant is not responsible. Plaintiff's sole and actual claim 21 would be against any third party actually removing the entire "bravenewfilms" 22 channel from YouTube, for a very brief period of time, rather than Defendant. 23 24 25 26 28
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SEVENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE (PLAINTIFF'S FAILURE TO MITIGATE) 7. By way of pleading in the alternative, if and to the extent that any of
27 the acts or omissions alleged in the Complaint did occur, then Defendant is not 13
OTRN'S ANSWER TO COMPLAINT Case No. CV 08-4703 SI
1 liable to Plaintiff for any of the matters alleged by Plaintiff in this Action, in that 2 Plaintiff has unreasonably failed to mitigate its alleged damages by filing the 3 Complaint before notifying Defendant of any alleged improper acts or omissions, or 4 the specifics of Plaintiff's claims with respect to the Video as involving separate and 5 distinct circumstances from the rest of the collective body of 259 videos which were 6 the collective basis of the 9/29/08 Letter. 7 8 9 10 8. EIGHTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE (LACHES, WAIVER AND ESTOPPEL) By way of pleading in the alternative, if and to the extent that any of
11 the acts or omissions alleged in the Complaint did occur, any claims by Plaintiff to 12 relief from Defendant for any of the matters alleged by Plaintiff in this Action 13 should be, and are, barred by the principles of laches, waiver and estoppel, on 14 multiple grounds, including without limitation: (i) Plaintiff's commencing this 15 Action without any prior communication with Defendant whatsoever, including a 16 failure to apprise Defendant of Plaintiff's claims as to the uniqueness of the Video 17 as distinct from the other 258 videos which were the subject of the single notice 18 addressed to the totality of the library of 259 videos of archived content of the Show 19 which was the collective subject of the 9/29/08 Letter; (ii) Plaintiff's commencing 20 this Action hurriedly, without prior communications with Defendant, prior to 21 reinstatement of the Video via the restoration process specified by the DMCA for 22 resolving the very issues alleged by Plaintiff in this Action; (iii) Plaintiff's obvious 23 efforts to use this Action to punish Savage for purported statements (whether or not 24 summarized or described out of context) and other purported offenses, as evidenced 25 by Plaintiff's allegations in the Complaint concerning Savage's purported "hateful 26 views" (Paragraph 19, at Page 6, line 2) and "intolerance" (Paragraph 18, at Page 5, 27 line 28), and for what Plaintiff describes in the Complaint as "Savage's retaliatory 28
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OTRN'S ANSWER TO COMPLAINT Case No. CV 08-4703 SI
1 lawsuit against CAIR" and "his attempts to censor CAIR by suing the group for 2 copyright infringement" (Paragraph 19, at Page 6, lines 4-6); (iv) Plaintiff's use of 3 this Action to restrict exercise of Savage's free speech rights by challenging the 4 merits of Savage's purported views as part of the affirmative allegations advanced 5 by Plaintiff in the Complaint; and (v) Plaintiff's efforts to interfere with the 6 relationship between Savage and OTRN by introducing alleged sins of Savage as 7 affirmative contentions in an action brought against Defendant for Defendant's 8 separate actions. 9 10 11 12 9. NINTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE (PLAINTIFF'S UNCLEAN HANDS) By way of pleading in the alternative, if and to the extent that any of
13 the acts or omissions alleged in the Complaint did occur, any claims by Plaintiff to 14 equitable relief for any of the matters alleged by Plaintiff in this Action should be, 15 and are, barred by the principle of unclean hands, on multiple grounds, including 16 without limitation: (i) Plaintiff's commencing this Action without any prior 17 communication with Defendant whatsoever, including a failure to apprise Defendant 18 of Plaintiff's claims as to the uniqueness of the Video as distinct from the other 258 19 videos which were the subject of the single notice addressed to the totality of the 20 library of 259 videos of archived content of the Show which was the collective 21 subject of the 9/29/08 Letter; (ii) Plaintiff's commencing this Action hurriedly, 22 without prior communications with Defendant, prior to reinstatement of the Video 23 via the restoration process specified by the DMCA for resolving the very issues 24 alleged by Plaintiff in this Action; (iii) Plaintiff's obvious efforts to use this Action 25 to punish Savage for purported statements (whether or not summarized or described 26 out of context) and other purported offenses, as evidenced by Plaintiff's allegations 27 in the Complaint concerning Savage's purported "hateful views" (Paragraph 19, at 28
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1 Page 6, line 2) and "intolerance" (Paragraph 18, at Page 5, line 28), and for what 2 Plaintiff describes in the Complaint as "Savage's retaliatory lawsuit against CAIR" 3 and "his attempts to censor CAIR by suing the group for copyright infringement" 4 (Paragraph 19, at Page 6, lines 4-6); (iv) Plaintiff's use of this Action to restrict 5 exercise of Savage's free speech rights by challenging the merits of Savage's 6 purported views as part of the affirmative allegations advanced by Plaintiff in the 7 Complaint; and (v) Plaintiff's efforts to interfere with the relationship between 8 Savage and OTRN by introducing alleged sins of Savage as affirmative contentions 9 in an action brought against Defendant for Defendant's separate actions. 10 11 12 13 10. TENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE (FAILURE TO STATE A CLAIM) By way of pleading in the alternative, if and to the extent that any of
14 the acts or omissions alleged in the Complaint did occur, Plaintiff is nevertheless not 15 entitled to any relief against Defendant in this Action, in that Plaintiff has not stated 16 any claim against Plaintiff upon which relief can be granted. 17 18 19 20 11. ELEVENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE (17 U.S.C. §512 INAPPLICABLE) 11. By way of pleading in the alternative, if and to the extent that any
21 of the acts or omissions alleged in the Complaint did occur, Plaintiff is nevertheless 22 not entitled to any relief against Defendant in this Action, in that Plaintiff's claim 23 under §512(f) is inapplicable, since the 9/29/08 Letter did not constitute a 24 "takedown notice" under the DMCA. 25 26 27 28
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1 2 3 12.
TWELTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE (FREE SPEECH) By way of pleading in the alternative, if and to the extent that any of
4 the acts or omissions alleged in the Complaint did occur, Plaintiff is nevertheless not 5 entitled to any relief against Defendant in this action, in that Defendant's conduct 6 was protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article 7 I, Section 2 of the California Constitution as free speech. 8 9 10 11 13. THIRTEENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE (ANTI-SLAPP STATUTE) By way of pleading in the alternative, if and to the extent that any of
12 the acts or omissions alleged in the Complaint did occur, Plaintiff is nevertheless not 13 entitled to any relief against Defendant in this action due to Plaintiff's violation of 14 the Anti-SLAPP Statute under CCP §425.16, in that Plaintiff has filed the Complaint 15 in retaliation for Michael Savage's lawsuit against CAIR, as is evidenced by (i) 16 Plaintiff's commencing this Action without any prior communication with 17 Defendant whatsoever, including a failure to apprise Defendant of Plaintiff's claims 18 as to the uniqueness of the Video as distinct from the other 258 videos which were 19 the subject of the single notice addressed to the totality of the library of 259 videos 20 of archived content of the Show which was the collective subject of the 9/29/08 21 Letter; (ii) Plaintiff's commencing this Action hurriedly, without prior 22 communications with Defendant, prior to reinstatement of the Video via the 23 restoration process specified by the DMCA for resolving the very issues alleged by 24 Plaintiff in this Action; (iii) Plaintiff's obvious efforts to use this Action to punish 25 Savage for purported statements (whether or not summarized or described out of 26 context) and other purported offenses, as evidenced by Plaintiff's allegations in the 27 Complaint concerning Savage's purported "hateful views" (Paragraph 19, at Page 6, 28
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1 line 2) and "intolerance" (Paragraph 18, at Page 5, line 28), and for what Plaintiff 2 describes in the Complaint as "Savage's retaliatory lawsuit against CAIR" and "his 3 attempts to censor CAIR by suing the group for copyright infringement" (Paragraph 4 19, at Page 6, lines 4-6); (iv) Plaintiff's use of this Action to restrict exercise of 5 Savage's free speech rights by challenging the merits of Savage's purported views 6 as part of the affirmative allegations advanced by Plaintiff in the Complaint; and (v) 7 Plaintiff's efforts to interfere with the relationship between Savage and OTRN by 8 introducing alleged sins of Savage as affirmative contentions in an action brought 9 against Defendant for Defendant's separate actions.. 10 11 12 13 14. FOURTEENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE (NO CONTINUING CONTROVERSY) By way of pleading in the alternative, if and to the extent that any of
14 the acts or omissions alleged in the Complaint did occur, Plaintiff is not entitled to 15 injunctive relief, in that no continuing controversy exists with respect to Plaintiff's 16 use of the Video, and no basis exists to establish a likelihood of a further claim by 17 Plaintiff with respect to the Video. The totality of Plaintiff's actual claim in this 18 Action has been rendered moot, in that a reference to the Video was mistakenly 19 included in a notice challenging an archived library on YouTube consisting of 259 20 videos of content taken from the Show, any content posted by Plaintiff on YouTube 21 removed as a result thereof was restored to YouTube within a short period of time 22 without further objection by Defendant, Defendant has made no challenge to the 23 separate posting of the Video on Plaintiff's own website, and, upon learning of the 24 specific broadcast to which the Video relates, Defendant has not asserted any further 25 claims with respect thereto and does hereby disclaim any copyright claim on the part 26 of Defendant over the Video. Accordingly, regardless of any prior circumstances, 27 28
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OTRN'S ANSWER TO COMPLAINT Case No. CV 08-4703 SI
1 there is no legal basis for issuance of any injunction in this Action, as there is, and 2 can be, no actual showing of future actions justifying any injunctive relief. 3 4 5 6 15. FIFTEENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE (NO ACTUAL DAMAGES) By way of pleading in the alternative, if and to the extent that any of
7 the acts or omissions alleged in the Complaint did occur, Plaintiff is not entitled to 8 any recovery against Defendant in this Action, in that Plaintiff has not sustained any 9 actual damages as a proximate result of the actions or inactions of Defendant alleged 10 in the Complaint, and in that any and all items posted on YouTube by Plaintiff have 11 been restored in a timely manner without any demonstrable loss of revenues to 12 Plaintiff as a result thereof, among other factors. 13 14 15 16 16. SIXTEENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE (DAMAGES SPECULATIVE) By way of pleading in the alternative, if and to the extent that any of
17 the acts or omissions alleged in the Complaint did occur, Plaintiff is not entitled to 18 any recovery against Defendant in this Action in that any damages claimed by 19 Plaintiff in this Action are speculative. 20 21 22 23 17. SEVENTEENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE (COMPARATIVE FAULT/NEGLIGENCE OF PLAINTIFF) By way of pleading in the alternative, if and to the extent that any of
24 the acts or omissions alleged in the Complaint did occur, any claimed damages 25 asserted against Defendant must be reduced in proportion to the comparative fault 26 and/or negligence of Plaintiff in relation to the fault and/or negligence of other third 27 parties as to the matter or matters giving rise to such claimed damages, if and to the 28
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OTRN'S ANSWER TO COMPLAINT Case No. CV 08-4703 SI
1 extent that any such claimed damages can in fact be proven to be actual, 2 compensable, demonstrable and the proximate result of actual wrongful actions or 3 omissions established in this Action. 4 5 6 7 18. EIGHTEENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE (COMPARATIVE FAULT/NEGLIGENCE OF THIRD PARTIES) By way of pleading in the alternative, if and to the extent that any of
8 the acts or omissions alleged in the Complaint did occur, any claimed damages 9 asserted against Defendant must be reduced in proportion to the comparative fault 10 and/or negligence of Defendant in relation to the fault and/or negligence of other 11 third parties as to the matter or matters giving rise to such claimed damages, if and 12 to the extent that any such claimed damages can in fact be proven to be actual, 13 compensable, demonstrable and the proximate result of actual wrongful actions or 14 omissions established in this Action. 15 16 17 18 19. NINTEENTH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE (PRIVILEGE) Plaintiff is not entitled to any relief against Defendant in this Action, in
19 that any actual actions of Defendant at issue in this Action were privileged under the 20 California litigation privilege and other applicable privileges, and were undertaken 21 by Defendant in an honest and good faith belief that such actions were lawful and 22 proper efforts to preserve and protect Defendant's lawful interests, whether or not, 23 in hindsight, Defendant's actions are deemed to have been mistaken and/or 24 negligent with respect to one single video out of the collective total of 259 videos 25 giving rise to the 9/29/08 Letter. 26 27 28
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OTRN'S ANSWER TO COMPLAINT Case No. CV 08-4703 SI
1 2 3 20.
TWENTIETH AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE (GOOD FAITH) Plaintiff is not entitled to any relief against Defendant in this Action, in
4 that any actual actions of Defendant at issue in this Action were justified, and were 5 undertaken by Defendant in an honest and good faith belief that such actions were 6 lawful and proper efforts to preserve and protect Defendant's lawful interests, 7 whether or not, in hindsight, Defendant's actions are deemed to have been mistaken 8 and/or negligent with respect to one single video out of the collective total of 259 9 videos giving rise to the 9/29/08 Letter. 10 11 12 13 21. TWENTY-FIRST AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE: (TOTALITY OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES) Plaintiff is not entitled to any relief against Defendant in this Action, in
14 that any actual actions of Defendant at issue in this Action are not actionable under 15 the totality of the circumstances in this Action. 16 17 18 19 21 22 Dated: January 9, 2009 23 24 25 26 27 28
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TWENTY-SECOND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE: (NO FAIR USE) 22. Plaintiff is barred from relief because the video at issue does not make
20 fair use of the copyrighted work.
By
/s/ Benjamin Aaron Shapiro
Attorneys for Defendants Michael Weiner aka Michael Savage and Original Talk Radio Network, Inc.
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OTRN'S ANSWER TO COMPLAINT Case No. CV 08-4703 SI

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